You plan to move to the Philippines? Wollen Sie auf den Philippinen leben?

There are REALLY TONS of websites telling us how, why, maybe why not and when you'll be able to move to the Philippines. I only love to tell and explain some things "between the lines". Enjoy reading, be informed, have fun and be entertained too!

Ja, es gibt tonnenweise Webseiten, die Ihnen sagen wie, warum, vielleicht warum nicht und wann Sie am besten auf die Philippinen auswandern könnten. Ich möchte Ihnen in Zukunft "zwischen den Zeilen" einige zusätzlichen Dinge berichten und erzählen. Viel Spass beim Lesen und Gute Unterhaltung!


Visitors of germanexpatinthephilippines/Besucher dieser Webseite.Ich liebe meine Flaggensammlung!

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Friday, January 12, 2024

The INQUIRER Sports Newsletter January 12, 2024

 

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January 12, 2024

 

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Tyler Tio (right) and the Phoenix Fuel Masters have been soaring lately. (AUGUST DELA CRUZ)

 

Hey there sports fan,


Happy New Year everyone!


How excited are you for sports in 2024? We certainly are. We have started mapping out our Olympic coverage, finalizing how we will approach the Summer Games that will be held in glamorous Paris.


So far, two of the country's best bet for medals—gold, even—have qualified for the Olympics: World No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena and world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo.


Remember how big a year this two had in  2023?


Obiena, for one,  joined an elite cast of pole vaulters who have breached the 6-meter mark. Do you know in which country did Obiena pull off that feat? The answer, at the end of this email.


We're also preparing for the Inquirer Sports Awards, which will be held in second week of February and maybe you can help us with some of the awardees.


We're also tracking the PBA Commissioner's Cup, which is now entering the final stretch before the playoffs asnd so far Magnolia seems to be looking good up there at No. 1. The surprise, though, has been the Phoenix Fuel Masters, who have stuck themselves to the No. 2 post and are looking forward to achieving more success in the tournament  


“We’re doing good now, but I hope we can sustain it,” team captain RJ Jazul said after Phoenix survived Meralco, 93-83,

 

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Do you know where Kim Kianna Dy (13) is going to?  (PVL IMAGES)

 

Meanwhile...


Here are stories you may have missed over the holidays . 


F2's disbandment has created a quite the stir, not just because a traditionally heavyweight squad folded up. That disbandment has seen a lot of Cargo Movers standouts being picked up by several teams. So far, a handul  of players have found new homes.


Tim Cone talked about what's next for Gilas Pilipinas, and how difficult it might be to make sure the next basketball milestone for the country won't wait another six decades. 


Women's coaches speak up. Aris Dimaunahan says it's time to move on after NU finished second in women's basketball, while Pat Aquino worries about the sustainability of the women's national program.


What we're up to next:

We are busy mapping out our Olymnpic coverage and rushing to finish preparations for the Inquirer Sports Awards. We'll keep our ears to the ground to bring you the latest stories in the world of sports.



Number of the Week: 18-0


Boston Celtics' home record this year, a franchise best.

 

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK


“We are passionate about our basketball and that kind of passion should somehow translate to eventual success.”


—Tim Cone, on meeting fans' high expectations for the national team. 


 

Before we end this, the answer to today's trivia question is Norway. If you want to answer more trivia questions, join our Viber community, which features a weekly sports quiz every Friday. 


Buy the Inquirer at newsstands, subscribe to our digital edition, Inquirer Plus, visit our online site and follow us on socials (Twitter: @inquirersports; FB: facebook.com/inquirersports) for more stories and updates—or to send us questions or suggestions of stories you'd want to read.


Have a great and safe Holidays! See you next Friday.


Francis



Francis T. J. Ochoa is the Sports Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For comments, suggestions and questions, hit him up on Twitter (@ftjochoaINQ).

Philippine-German Relations (VI) - Deutsch-philippinische Beziehungen (VI)

The Existence of a German Community

Fr. Gene Bacareza, a Bol-anon, was then in 1986 the first chaplain of the small Philippine community. Organizing several religious and civic clubs, establishing community events, and starting the first community newsletter, Fr. Bacareza slowly developed the community as a center where Filipinos in Berlin can congregate and hold celebrations.


He taught to me many things. I learned from him many things about the German Community in the Philippines.

The existence of a German Community before 1836 was impossible. The Royal Decree of February 2, 1800 prohibited foreigners to reside in the Philippines. Other similar decrees were issued in 1807 and in 1816. It was evident that Spain wanted to keep foreigners out of the Philippines, believing in some way that the Philippines a dollar gained by a foreigner was one taken from the pocket of Spainard.

When Ferdinand Magellan started his expedition in 1520, his main problem was not so much the financial aspect of the travel, since he was supported by Jacob Fugger, rich German banker in Augsburg.

It is evident from the list of the crew members that at least three gunners were Germans: Hans Vargue, chief gunner, Jorge Aleman (Georg Deutsch) and a certain Hans, who survived and went with the crew members who arrived in Spain on September 8, 1522.

The coming of the individual Germans to the Philippines was desultory. Pedro Murillo Velarde wrote in his "Jesuit Missions in the 17th Century" that "in the harbor of Manila  there are people from all the nations of Europe-French, German and Dutch.

A certain Ernst Hoffmann made some observations during his world travel in 1823 and 1826. His observations are found in the "Archiv für Mineralogie, Bergbau und Hüttenkunde", Berlin, 1829, pp. 243 - 315.

More about German Jesuits in Part VII of this serial...

(To be continued!)



Die Existenz einer deutschen Gemeinschaft

Fr. Gene Bacareza, ein Bol-anon, war 1986 der erste Geistliche der kleinen philippinischen Gemeinde. Er organisierte mehrere religiöse und bürgerliche Clubs, richtete Gemeinschaftsveranstaltungen ein und startete den ersten Gemeinde-Newsletter. Bacareza entwickelte die Gemeinde langsam zu einem Zentrum, in dem Filipinos in Berlin zusammenkommen und Feiern abhalten können.

Er hat mir viele Dinge beigebracht. Ich habe von ihm viel über die deutsche Gemeinschaft auf den Philippinen gelernt.

Die Existenz einer deutschen Gemeinschaft vor 1836 war unmöglich. Der königliche Erlass vom 2. Februar 1800 verbot Ausländern den Aufenthalt auf den Philippinen. Weitere ähnliche Dekrete wurden 1807 und 1816 erlassen. Es war offensichtlich, dass Spanien Ausländer von den Philippinen fernhalten wollte, da es in gewisser Weise glaubte, dass die Philippinen einen von einem Ausländer gewonnenen Dollar aus der Tasche Spaniens nahmen.

Als Ferdinand Magellan 1520 seine Expedition begann, war sein Hauptproblem nicht so sehr der finanzielle Aspekt der Reise, da er von Jacob Fugger, einem reichen deutschen Bankier in Augsburg, unterstützt wurde.

Aus der Liste der Besatzungsmitglieder geht hervor, dass mindestens drei Kanoniere Deutsche waren: Hans Vargue, Chefschütze, Jorge Aleman (Georg Deutsch) und ein gewisser Hans, der überlebte und mit den Besatzungsmitgliedern ging, die am 8. September in Spanien ankamen , 1522.

Die Ankunft einzelner Deutscher auf den Philippinen verlief ziellos. Pedro Murillo Velarde schrieb in seinen „Jesuitenmissionen im 17. Jahrhundert“, dass „im Hafen von Manila Menschen aus allen Nationen Europas leben – Franzosen, Deutsche und Niederländer.“

Ein gewisser Ernst Hoffmann machte während seiner Weltreise in den Jahren 1823 und 1826 einige Beobachtungen. Seine Beobachtungen finden sich im „Archiv für Mineralogie, Bergbau und Hüttenkunde“, Berlin, 1829, S. 243 – 315.

Mehr über deutsche Jesuiten in Teil VII dieser Serie...

(Fortsetzung folgt!)


Thursday, January 11, 2024

Kahimunan Festival kicks off Friday in Butuan City

BY MIKE CRISMUNDO


BUTUAN CITY – All roads lead to Barangay Libertad here as the week-long Kahimunan Festival this year kicks off on Friday, January 12.

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“We are expecting more visitors to come here to witness again our Kahimunan Festival,” Barangay Chairman Vincent Rizal C. Rosario said. 

Among the activities slated for the festival from January 12 to 20 are a novena Mass, barangay night, Muyta Hong Libertad beauty pageant talent night, acrobatic show, and the MHL coronation night.

The Department of Tourism-13 (Caraga) led by Regional Director Ivonnie B. Dumadag backed the event supported by the Santo Nino Shrine, Diocese of Butuan, and city officials led by Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada. 

The Butuan City Police Office has deployed personnel to maintain peace and order during the event.

The Kahimunan Festival, this city’s version of the Sinulog Festival of Cebu City, is held every third Sunday of January in celebration of the feast day of patron saint Santo Nino (Child Jesus).Kahimunan is a Lumad (native) term which means "gathering." 

Geraldine Jennings ready to shine in showbiz

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

AT A GLANCE
  • Geraldine mentioned that the movie is still in progress, but she enjoys being on the set. Her passion for filmmaking is admirable - she even enjoys being on set when the movie is still in progress.


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Geraldine Jennings

Geraldine Jennings - a talented artist from a diverse Irish-British-Filipino background - is all set to take Philippine showbiz by storm with her debut performance. 

Get ready to witness a fresh and captivating presence on the screen as Geraldine brings her unique cultural blend and artistic flair to the forefront.

During a recent media conference in Quezon City, Geraldine expressed excitement for her upcoming showbiz career, which is set to appear in the Solid Gold Entertainment Production movie "Isla Babuyan." 

"At a young age, I loved singing. My mom enrolled me in singing and guitar classes. I just loved it. I studied it in Los Angeles. And I grew to love the craft. Tito Leo (Dominguez) has been asking to do this for a while now. It's been in the works for two years. Finally, I got the chance to do it. It's my passion. I love the arts," said Geraldine when asked about her venture into local showbiz.

Geraldine's passion for filmmaking is admirable - she even enjoys being on set when the movie is still in progress. 

Her dedication to the craft is inspiring, and it's evident that she puts her heart and soul into every project she works on.

"It was an amazing experience. It's still ongoing. We haven't finished yet. It was challenging initially because it was different from studying it. But everyone was so helpful, so friendly. It was normal, and I felt great. I love it," she said. O

On her showbiz influences, Geraldine said: "While I was growing up, it was Miley Cyrus. I love her music. 'Party In The USA' was my favorite. I still love her now. Her new album 'Flowers.' She's my inspiration musical-wise. Right now, Dua Lipa. I love her style. I love how she sings and how she performs. Acting-wise, I will have to say Gal Gadot. She's my favorite in 'Wonder Woman,' 'Red Notice.' Also, Margot Robbie. She is amazing in 'Barbie,' very versatile. Those are my influences." 

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Geraldine also shared her thoughts about the love team culture in the country.

"I'm really flexible. I am willing. I am easy naman to do what is needed in the movies. I think I would be willing if needed," she said.

This beauty also shared how she prepared for her venture into showbiz.

"I started my training in LA. I went to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. And it was about the theory of acting, reading about it. I also took acting classes in West Hollywood, specifically for TV and movies. I learned a lot. When I came back in September, I did an acting workshop with Joe Macasa, who is amazing, and he taught me a lot about how to feel the vibes. So you're not acting, but you are the character. But I learned a lot from being on set. Being there, I learned a lot from my co-stars, which is great," she said.

Geraldine also loves equestrian, polo, clay pigeon shooting, fitness and exercise.  "I love pilates, indoor cycling, spinning, and running."

When she moved to the United Kingdom in 2009, she returned to the Philippines thrice a year during vacation. She has a second home in Manila.

Geraldine's mom is Gina Cariaga, a Filipino housewife and businesswoman from Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, and her father is Frank Jennings, a Northern Irish international businessman.

Her mom's side comes from politics and teaching. Her mom's grandfather, Nicasio Cariaga, was the police chief and a teacher who graduated from the Philippine Normal University.

Geraldine is the second child among three equally talented sisters.

"Isla Babuyan," tells the story of Anastassia (Geraldine), a young half-Filipina and half-European girl who comes to the Philippines to be with her Filipino mother, Rose (Lotlot De Leon). Anastasia meets and falls in love with the handsome Jordan (Jameson Blake), who is the scion and heir of a wealthy family. But the conflict begins when Jordan's stepmother (Nathalie Hart) cannot accept Anastassia and will do everything to keep them apart.

Jessie Vilabrille wrote the screenplay from a story he conceptualized with Leo Dominguez and Bam Salvani. It is line-produced by Dennis Evangelista and directed by Abdel Langit. 

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Philippine Fairy Tales (XIV) - Philippinische Märchen (XIV): `Guide to Filipino Mythical Creatures

Guide to Filipino Mythical Creatures

  • Written by Heloise Diamante
  • The Filipinos share various beliefs in the supernatural. Even in such modern times, many still believe that mythical creatures live among us. This may be attributed to the old folktales they were told in their childhood or to the creative minds and storytelling abilities of Filipinos.

    Some creatures are thought to be like gods and goddesses, acting as divine providers and guardians to the townspeople. On the other hand, some viewed as villainous, causing misfortune and troubles. Get to know some of them as we list down some of the well known Filipino mythical creatures!

    A mural featuring some of the Filipino mythical creatures you might encounter.

    Aswang

    One of the most known local mythical creatures is the aswang. They are believed to be evil beings who feed on the blood and flesh of their victims. They appear as ordinary humans, transforming at night into an animal, usually a dog, while possessing superhuman strength and speed.

    To ward the pesky Aswangs, salt should be sprinkled around the house and garlic must be hung by the windows and doorways.

    Learn more about the aswang through the 2012 film, Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles, starring famous Filipino actor Dingdong Dantes.

    Diwata

    Venerated as gods and guardians of nature, the diwata is a type of fairy who aid those who are deserving and severely punish those who exploit them or cause destruction of their land.

    The most popular diwata would be Maria Makiling, guardian of Mt. Makiling in Laguna. Even now, many locals believe in her presence that hikers are advised to always be respectful so as not to anger the diwata.

    The independent film Liway (2018) delves on the topic of diwata as well as other Philippine mythical creatures.


    Tiyanak

    Don’t be lured by the tiyanak, a creature who disguises as an infant crying. When picked up, it transforms into a small hideous creature with sharp teeth and incredible strength who mauls and eats its victim.

    There are a handful of Filipino films on the subject of tiyanak, some dating back to the 80s. The most recent one is the 2014 film T’yanak.

    Tambal

    The Filipino version of the doppelganger is the tambal, a creature able to change their appearance to their human victims. They cause their victims to get lost for days and take their place in their home mingling with family and acquaintances.

    There are stories of the tambal killing their victims before taking their place. The tambal later fakes its death but the “corpse” it leaves would be a small tree trunk.

    A 2016 Filipino film entitled Elemento tackles the story of tambal possessing a child and how it strained the life of his family, especially his mother.

    Kapre

    Kapre is a mythical creature characterized as a tree giant because of it’s huge, black, and hairy built that usually stays at a branch of a tree smoking.

    The elders said that a kapre may make contact with people to offer friendship and can be attracted to a beautiful woman. They are not considered as evil creatures but can be vengeful to those who try to cut down the tree it is inhabiting.

    The Aswang Project, an online educational resource on Philippine folklore and mythology, produced a documentary that delved deeper into the topic of kapre.

    Tikbalang

    There is also the tikbalang, a giant creature with the head of a horse and body of a man. The mythical creature is often playful and would cause travelers to get lost in the wild. Some pranks, however, turn severe and cause people to lose their minds.

    The stories of this creature are used by parents to frighten children from going out at night. It is said that, when you feel disoriented or off-track when hiking, you are getting pranked by a tikbalang and you have to turn your shirt inside out to ward it off.

    Ulan (2019) is a multi-awarded film that intertwines a love story with tales of mythical elements. It puts the spotlight on the half-man-half-horse creature.

    Duwende

    Another playful Filipino mythical creature is the duwende. They appear as little old men who only show themselves to people they like. It is said that if a friendly duwende lives in your home, you will enjoy a good and prosperous life.

    The duwende, however, is easy to offend and would often curse people with illnesses or misfortune. To avoid this, Filipinos would often say “tabi-tabi po,” (Excuse me) to ask for permission before doing anything, which may anger a duwende. Tabi-tabi po is also a very common expression used by hikers to express respect to any supernatural beings lingering in the forests and mountains.

    The Duwende (2016) is a short film where you can know more about this fascinating creature and its connection to the disappearance of a child in the rural Philippines. The film has been shown at the 2018 Los Angeles Asia Pacific Film Festival.


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    Leitfaden zu philippinischen Fabelwesen

    Geschrieben von Heloise Diamante

    Die Filipinos teilen unterschiedliche Vorstellungen vom Übernatürlichen. Selbst in dieser modernen Zeit glauben viele immer noch, dass Fabelwesen unter uns leben. Dies kann auf die alten Volksmärchen zurückgeführt werden, die ihnen in ihrer Kindheit erzählt wurden, oder auf den kreativen Geist und die Fähigkeiten der Filipinos, Geschichten zu erzählen.

    Manche Kreaturen gelten als Götter und Göttinnen und fungieren als göttliche Versorger und Beschützer der Stadtbewohner. Auf der anderen Seite betrachteten einige sie als schurkisch, weil sie Unglück und Ärger verursachten. Lernen Sie einige von ihnen kennen, während wir einige der bekanntesten philippinischen Fabelwesen auflisten!

    Ein Wandgemälde mit einigen der philippinischen Fabelwesen, denen Sie begegnen könnten.


    Aswang

    Eines der bekanntesten lokalen Fabelwesen ist der Aswang. Es wird angenommen, dass es sich bei ihnen um böse Wesen handelt, die sich vom Blut und Fleisch ihrer Opfer ernähren. Sie erscheinen als gewöhnliche Menschen, verwandeln sich nachts in ein Tier, normalerweise einen Hund, und besitzen dabei übermenschliche Kraft und Geschwindigkeit.

    Um die lästigen Aswangs abzuwehren, sollte Salz im ganzen Haus gestreut und Knoblauch an Fenstern und Türen aufgehängt werden.

    Erfahren Sie mehr über die Aswang im Film Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles aus dem Jahr 2012 mit dem berühmten philippinischen Schauspieler Dingdong Dantes.

    Diwata

    Die Diwata werden als Götter und Hüter der Natur verehrt und sind eine Art Fee, die denen hilft, die es verdienen, und diejenigen hart bestraft, die sie ausbeuten oder ihr Land zerstören.

    Das beliebteste Diwata wäre Maria Makiling, die Hüterin des Berges Makiling in Laguna. Noch heute glauben viele Einheimische durch ihre Anwesenheit, dass Wanderern geraten wird, immer respektvoll zu sein, um die Diwata nicht zu verärgern.

    Der Independentfilm Liway (2018) beschäftigt sich intensiv mit dem Thema Diwata und anderen philippinischen Fabelwesen.

    Tiyanak

    Lassen Sie sich nicht vom Tiyanak anlocken, einer Kreatur, die sich als weinendes Kleinkind verkleidet. Wenn es hochgehoben wird, verwandelt es sich in eine kleine, abscheuliche Kreatur mit scharfen Zähnen und unglaublicher Kraft, die ihr Opfer zerfleischt und frisst.

    Es gibt eine Handvoll philippinischer Filme zum Thema Tiyanak, einige davon stammen aus den 80er Jahren. Der jüngste ist der Film T’yanak aus dem Jahr 2014.

    Tambal

    Die philippinische Version des Doppelgängers ist der Tambal, eine Kreatur, die ihr Aussehen gegenüber ihren menschlichen Opfern verändern kann. Sie führen dazu, dass sich ihre Opfer tagelang verlaufen und ihren Platz in ihrem Zuhause einnehmen, wo sie sich unter Familie und Bekannte mischen.

    Es gibt Geschichten darüber, dass die Tambal ihre Opfer töteten, bevor sie deren Platz einnahmen. Der Tambal täuscht später seinen Tod vor, aber die „Leiche“, die er hinterlässt, wäre ein kleiner Baumstamm.

    Ein philippinischer Film aus dem Jahr 2016 mit dem Titel Elemento befasst sich mit der Geschichte, wie Tambal ein Kind besitzt und wie es das Leben seiner Familie, insbesondere seiner Mutter, belastet.

    Kapre

    Kapre ist ein Fabelwesen, das aufgrund seines riesigen, schwarzen und haarigen Körperbaus als Baumriese bezeichnet wird und sich normalerweise rauchend an einem Ast eines Baumes aufhält.

    Die Ältesten sagten, dass ein Kapre Kontakt zu Menschen aufnehmen kann, um ihnen Freundschaft anzubieten, und dass er sich zu einer schönen Frau hingezogen fühlen kann. Sie gelten nicht als böse Kreaturen, können aber rachsüchtig gegenüber denen sein, die versuchen, den Baum, in dem sie leben, zu fällen.

    Das Aswang-Projekt, eine Online-Bildungsressource zur philippinischen Folklore und Mythologie, produzierte einen Dokumentarfilm, der sich eingehender mit dem Thema Kapre befasste.

    Tikbalang

    Es gibt auch den Tikbalang, ein riesiges Wesen mit dem Kopf eines Pferdes und dem Körper eines Menschen. Das Fabelwesen ist oft verspielt und führt dazu, dass Reisende sich in der Wildnis verirren. Manche Streiche nehmen jedoch schwerwiegende Ausmaße an und führen dazu, dass Menschen den Verstand verlieren.

    Die Geschichten über diese Kreatur werden von Eltern genutzt, um Kinder davon abzuhalten, nachts auszugehen. Man sagt, wenn man sich beim Wandern desorientiert oder vom Weg abgekommen fühlt, wird einem ein Tikbalang einen Streich spielen und man muss sein Hemd umstülpen, um das zu verhindern.

    Ulan (2019) ist ein mehrfach preisgekrönter Film, der eine Liebesgeschichte mit Geschichten über mythische Elemente verknüpft. Es rückt das Wesen, halb Mensch, halb Pferd, ins Rampenlicht.

    Duwende

    Ein weiteres verspieltes philippinisches Fabelwesen ist die Duwende. Sie erscheinen als kleine alte Männer, die sich nur Menschen zeigen, die sie mögen. Es heißt, wenn ein freundlicher Duwende in Ihrem Zuhause lebt, werden Sie ein gutes und erfolgreiches Leben genießen.

    Der Duwende ist jedoch leicht zu beleidigen und verflucht oft Menschen mit Krankheiten oder Unglück. Um dies zu vermeiden, sagen Filipinos oft „tabi-tabi po“ (Entschuldigung), um um Erlaubnis zu bitten, bevor sie etwas tun, was einen Duwende verärgern könnte. Tabi-tabi po ist auch ein sehr gebräuchlicher Ausdruck, den Wanderer verwenden, um ihren Respekt vor allen übernatürlichen Wesen auszudrücken, die sich in den Wäldern und Bergen aufhalten.

    „The Duwende“ (2016) ist ein Kurzfilm, in dem Sie mehr über diese faszinierende Kreatur und ihren Zusammenhang mit dem Verschwinden eines Kindes auf den ländlichen Philippinen erfahren können. Der Film wurde auf dem Los Angeles Asia Pacific Film Festival 2018 gezeigt.



    2023 hottest recorded year as Earth nears key limit


     A mother and child cool off under a fountain in Coney Island on a hot afternoon on July 06, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.


    Rochelle Gluzman - Agence France-Presse


    PARIS, France — The year of 2023 was the hottest on record, with the increase in Earth's surface temperature nearly crossing the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius, EU climate monitors said Tuesday.

    Climate change intensified heatwaves, droughts and wildfires across the planet, and pushed the global thermometer 1.48 C above the preindustrial benchmark, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported.

    "It is also the first year with all days over one degree warmer than the pre-industrial period," said Samantha Burgess, deputy head of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

    "Temperatures during 2023 likely exceed those of any period in at least the last 100,000 years."

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the year was a mere preview of the "catastrophic future that awaits us if we don't act now", according to his spokesman.

    Nearly half the year exceeded the 1.5C limit, beyond which climate impacts are more likely to become self-reinforcing and catastrophic, according to scientists.

    But even if Earth's average surface temperature breaches 1.5C in 2024, as some scientists predict, it does not mean the world has failed to meet the Paris Agreement target of capping global warming under that threshold.

    That would occur only after several successive years above the 1.5C benchmark, and even then the 2015 treaty allows for the possibility of reducing Earth's temperature after a period of "overshoot".

    2023 saw massive fires in Canada, extreme droughts in the Horn of Africa or the Middle East, unprecedented summer heatwaves in Europe, the United States and China, along with record winter warmth in Australia and South America.

    "Such events will continue to get worse until we transition away from fossil fuels and reach net-zero emissions," said University of Reading climate change professor Ed Hawkins, who did not contribute to the report.

    "We will continue to suffer the consequences of our inactions today for generations."

    The Copernicus findings come one month after a climate agreement was reached at COP28 in Dubai calling for the gradual transition away from fossil fuels, the main cause of climate warming.

    "We desperately need to rapidly cut fossil fuel use and reach net-zero to preserve the liveable climate that we all depend on," said John Marsham, atmospheric science professor at the University of Leeds.

    The year saw another ominous record: two days in November 2023 exceeded the preindustrial benchmark by more than two degrees Celsius.

    Copernicus predicted that the 12-month period ending in January or February 2024 would "exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level".


    Oceans in overdrive 

    is also the first year with all days over one degree warmer than the pre-industrial period," said Samantha Burgess, deputy head of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

    Reliable weather records date back to 1850, but older proxy data for climate change—from tree rings, ice cores and sediment—show that 2023 temperatures "exceed those of any period in at least the last 100,000 years", Burgess said.

    Records were broken on every continent. In Europe, 2023 was the second-warmest year on record, at 0.17C cooler than in 2020.

    2023 saw the beginning of a naturally occurring El Nino weather phenomenon, which warms waters in the southern Pacific and stokes hotter weather beyond.

    The phenomenon is expected to reach its peak in 2024, and is linked to the eight consecutive months of record heat from June to December.

    Ocean temperatures globally were also "persistently and unusually high", with many seasonal records broken since April.


    Soaring CO2 and methane 

    These unprecedented ocean temperatures caused marine heatwaves devastating to aquatic life and boosted the intensity of storms.

    Oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat caused by human activity, and play a major role in regulating Earth's climate.

    Rising temperatures have also accelerated the melting of ice shelves—frozen ridges that help prevent massive glaciers in Greenland and West Antarctica from slipping into the ocean and raising sea levels.


    Antarctic sea ice hit record-low levels in 2023.

    "The extremes we have observed over the last few months provide a dramatic testimony of how far we now are from the climate in which our civilisation developed," said Carlo Buontempo, C3S director.

    In 2023, carbon dioxide and methane concentrations reached record levels of 419 parts per million and 1,902 parts per billion, respectively.

    Methane is the second-largest contributor to global warming after CO2, and is responsible for around 30 percent of the rise in global temperatures since the industrial revolution, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

    Philippine Tourism Surpasses Target by Over 650,000 Arrivals: 7.7M Targets


    The DOT disclosed that the international visitor receipts for 2023 totaled an impressive P482.54 billion, a figure that not only surpassed the previous year but also reached pre-pandemic revenue levels of 2019. With an eye on the future, the DOT is setting ambitious targets for 2024, aiming for a step closer to pre-pandemic arrival numbers with a goal of 7.7 million arrivals. Secretary Frasco assured, "What I can assure you is that we will push as hard as we can and fully activate our convergences with other government agencies in order to breach this target and bring us closer to pre-pandemic numbers even as we grapple with many forces beyond our control, globally, and locally." Expressing gratitude, Frasco acknowledged the global appreciation for the Philippines in 2023, highlighting the country's recognition as the World's Leading Beach and Dive Destination, Asia's Best Cruise Destination, and one of the few countries worldwide honored as a Global Tourism Resilience awardee. The acknowledgment reflects the collective efforts and global appeal that continue to position the Philippines as a premier travel destination.

    K-pop group ITZY’s new album sells more than 123,000 copies on first day of release

    BY JONATHAN HICAP

    K-pop girl group ITZY’s new mini-album “Born To Be” sold more than 123,000 copies on the first day of release. 

    “Born To Be” was released on Jan. 8 under JYP Entertainment, Imperial and Republic Records, featuring 10 new tracks including solo songs from each member, the first time since their debut. Each ITZY member contributed to the composition of each solo track.

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    ITZY (JYP Entertainment)

    According to Korea’s Hanteo Chart, “Born To Be” sold a total of 123,489 copies on the first day of release on Jan. 8. With this, ITZY topped Hanteo’s daily physical album chart. 

    ITZY also released a music video for the lead single “Untouchable,” which garnered 2.83 million views on YouTube as of this writing. 

    Meanwhile, ITZY will hold concerts at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul on Feb. 24 and 25, marking the start of their second world tour “ITZY 2nd World Tour: Born To Be.” 

    Their first world tour, “Checkmate,” included an eight-city US leg, as well as an Asian leg with performances in seven regions; Manila in the Philippines, Singapore, Jakarta in Indonesia, Chiba in Japan, Taipei in Taiwan.. 

    “Born To Be” track list 

    Born To Be

    Untouchable 

    Mr. Vampire

    Dynamite

    Crown on my Head (Yeji)

    Blossom (Lia)

    Run Away (Ryujin)

    Mine (Chaeryeong)

    Yet, But (Yuna)

    Escalator